The investigation of marine casualties has concentrated so far mainly on technical malfunctions,
ignoring the human factors. However, these human factors are in the majority of
cases the main cause of the casualties. In addition, in most cases, there is not one single
factor, but a combination of factors which makes every accident or incident a unique case.
A famous example is the accident with the ‘Torrey Canyon’ which ran aground in the Stilly
Isles in March 1967 and spillt all her oil, causing colossal pollution. Below follows a quote
from the Board of Investigation (Marriot, 1987):
“The Master was negligent in the following respects:
He took the ship between the Seven Stones and the Scillies, rather than between the
Seven Stones and Land’s End. Despite the presence offishing vessels and nets, he
kept the ship on automatic steering, failing to put her in hand steering.
He failed to reduce speed at any time prior to the stranding and especially at 08.40
when he reckoned he was nearer to the Seven Stones than he had previously thought
and when a turn to 325” was prevented by the presence of a fishing vessel on his port
side. He had not established any regular or routine practice for the operation of the
steering wheel selection lever.’ ’